The 3 natural approaches to treat ovarian cancer you never knew

Ovarian cancer begins in the female organs that produce eggs (ovaries), and often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and stomach. The American cancer Society estimates that about 22,440 women will receive a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2017. Usually women are advised to undergo surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments that may incur lasting side effects and do not necessarily translate into surviving cancer. Though these mainstream cancer treatments are prioritized, there are other scientifically tested natural approaches to treat ovarian cancer.

Advertisement

Why is it important to know more about natural approaches to treat ovarian cancer?

The reason why it is important for patients to know more about natural approaches to treat ovarian cancer, is because there are many biological things about the disease cancer that are just being understood now. In addition to that, mainstream treatments are constantly being put on trial for their effectiveness and other health issues they may cause. Recently, for example the results of a trial comparing a weekly dose-dense chemotherapy versus a 3-weekly regimen, found that while the drug can be delivered successfully and with lower toxicity than standard 3-weekly, the progression-free survival (PFS) among patients with epithelial ovarian cancer does not improve.

Another issue faced by oncologists is the fact that the spread of cancer cells (Metastases) arise from residual disseminated tumour cells (DTCs). This can happen years after primary tumour treatment because residual tumour cells can enter dormancy and evade therapies. The process of metastasising, may be linked to treatments such as chemotherapy, which according to recent reports could spread and lead to more advanced cancers. So, while mainstream treatments may have helped many people survive various types of cancer, other issues that arise from choosing them and the constant scientific findings about how effective they are or aren’t, tells us that there is no settled science on how cancer should be treated.

With that in mind, below are the 3 natural approaches to treat ovarian cancer you never knew, and the science behind them.

1) Essential oils

Frankincense oil

Frankincense was found to be an effective treatment in various types of cancer, including ovarian cancer. The secret is on the active compounds of Frankincense oil, which are called Boswellic acids, also know as AKBA (3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid), which is a type of triterpernic acid. This compound AKBA has been shown in a study to induce significant DNA damage immediately in all ovarian cancer cell lines compared to controls treated only with DMSO. Scientists concluded that AKBA is cytotoxic to ovarian cancer cells, at pharmacologically achievable concentrations, and AKBA exposure also induces multiple gene expression in different biological pathways in ovarian cancer cells.

2) Foods, supplements and dietary habits

Curcumin

The anticancer properties of curcumin have been widely spoken about, but in vitro and in vivo experiments of curcumin with and without docetaxel (chemotherapy medication) were done using human ovarian cancer cell lines. It was observed that Curcumin inhibited inducible NF-kappaB activation and suppressed proliferation in vitro. In vivo dose-finding experiments revealed that 500 mg/kg orally was the optimal dose needed to suppress NF-kappaB and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 activation and decrease angiogenic cytokine expression.

Onion

Onion has a compound called onionin A (ONA), and researchers at Kumamoto University have discovered that ONA has several effects on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). ONA has been found to decrease the progression of malignant ovarian cancer tumors by disrupting the pro-tumor function of myeloid cells. Anti-tumor immune responses appear to be activated by ONA by wiping out the immunosuppressive function of myeloid cells.

Ginkgo Biloba (GB) and flexseed

The supplementation with Ginkgo Biloba and Flexseed are reported to be effective in Managing or treating ovarian cancer (OC).

The reason for that is because flexseed is the richest vegetable source of omega-3 fatty acids (OM-3FAs) and phytoestrogen lignans, which were demonstrated to be effective in the prevention and improvement of ovarian cancer. This is because they target inflammatory prostaglandin E2 pathways, which has been shown to be a tumor-associated inflammatory mediator.

Advertisement

Ginkgo Biloba is also considered a natural approach to treat ovarian cancer, because it was demonstrated on 'in vitro experiments' with ovarian cancer cells, that GB extract and its components, quercetin and ginkgolide A and B, have significant anti-proliferative effects ( approximately 40%) in serous ovarian cancer cells.

Calcium, dairy and ovarian cancer

It has been reported that a risk factor of developing ovarian cancer is diet. In a past study, women who follow a low-fat diet for at least 4 years showed a lower risk of ovarian cancer. This was especially true for women who ate a diet with an emphasis on plant foods. In addition to that, a study from Rutgers Cancer Institute show that a diet high in calcium, but low in lactose may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in African-American women. In this study, the investigators found that consumption of whole milk especially was significantly associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Lower lactose foods, such as cheese and yogurt, were not found to have a significant association with increased risk.

3) Life style change

Yes, a change in your life style in one of the natural approaches to treat ovarian cancer. But, what are these changes?

While diet has a major role in preventing not just ovarian cancer, but all cancers, maintaining low body fat is an important way to prevent the spread of ovarian cancer. This is because researchers have discovered that ovarian cancer rapidly spreads to fat pads in the abdominal cavity, because this fatty tissue, which is extraordinarily rich in energy-dense lipids, acts as a launching pad and energy source for the likely lethal spread of ovarian cancer.

Related Terms

Epidemiological studies have suggested that dietary factors may be the cause for a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. However, the risk of developing ovarian cancer can be reduced, through dietary changes, according to multiple studies.

A commonly used class of heart medications known as beta-blockers is shown in a first study to improve ovarian cancer survival. The medications block tumor growth and spread by interfering with the stress pathway involved with cancer metastasis.